An ongoing dispute between two parties led to a Wednesday evening vehicle chase with gunshots fired and the arrest of a couple on attempted murder charges.
Anthony J. Herrera, 26, and Anna Herrera, 29, of the 6000 block of Aerosmith Court east of Las Cruces, are charged with one count each of attempted first degree murder and intentional child abuse. Anthony Herrera faces additional charges of possession of a firearm by a felon and tampering with evidence.
Shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to an area near Boutz Road and Alamo Street where several witnesses reported seeing a vehicle pursuit and heard gunshots. Police located several shell casing in the area and learned that someone in a Chrysler 200 appeared to be firing rounds as the vehicle chased a white Honda Accord.
Witnesses also told police that the Chrysler appeared to crash into a fence near the corner of Boutz and Alamo before leaving the area.
Officers subsequently located the Chrysler on Pines Street and determined that it belonged to Anthony and Anna Herrera who were later detained for questioning.
Detectives learned that Anna Herrera was initially driving the Chrysler with Anthony as a passenger and their 1-year-old son in the backseat. At some point the couple spotted a 19-year-old, a man Anthony Herrera had several times threatened to kill, driving his Honda Accord.
The Herreras began chasing the Honda through city streets before Anthony Herrera fired several rounds at the Honda. The driver of the Honda and his passenger were not injured but the vehicle was struck by several rounds of gunfire.
The Herrera’s 1-year-old son was turned over to the custody of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. Anna Herrera was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $100,000. Bond for Anthony Herrera will be set on Friday.
Information from Las Cruces Police